Intelligence Centre to do tracking via air; CCTV system being expanded

The 2019 Budget includes funding for the National Intelligence Centre (NIC) to purchase equipment to allow air reconnaissance (inspections) and to boost the collection of data through CCTV.

During Monday’s consideration of the budget, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said the funding would “allow for purchasing equipment that would allow air recognisance throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.”

The funding was approved.

In addition, funding was secured to buy equipment to create an offline backup system for the storage of critical data for the Closed-Circuit Television(CCTV) sites.

“As you are aware there are several of these sites around the country and the information is stored in a command centre.

“The problem we have is that the storage capacity of the system is not enough…it only provides you with a certain number of hours of storage,” the State Minister said.

He said the Centre is creating a backup system that would be offline, so that there would not be irreparable damage if something were to happen at the NIC, Minister Harmon stated. 

He said the NIC is also buying equipment for the expansion of CCTV sites.

According to Harmon, the new equipment would provide better coverage for the national intelligence and security system.

The NIC is headed by Brigadier (retired) Bruce Lovell.